With a pointed glance in Laurel’s direction, Chelsea picked up her spoon, licked it, and said, “Well, I think he’s hot.”
Both faeries looked studiously away.
“Okay, seriously, what was that?” Laurel said, after dropping Yuki off following the rather painfully awkward half hour they’d all just spent together.
“What?”
“The ‘Tamani is hot’ thing?”
Chelsea shrugged. “He is.”
“The last thing I want to talk to Yuki about is Tamani.”
“Why?” Chelsea asked, smirking.
“Because she’s a faerie and I don’t want her getting suspicious,” Laurel said, almost nonchalantly.
“Suuure,” Chelsea drawled. “What is up with you and Tam, anyway?”
“Please don’t call him that,” Laurel snapped, knowing it was completely unwarranted. “His name is Tamani, and I know you have to call him Tam at school, but could you please use his whole name when it’s just us?”
Chelsea sat silently, looking at Laurel.
“What?” Laurel finally asked, exasperated.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Chelsea said seriously. “What is up with you and Tamani?” she said, stressing his full name.
Laurel gripped the steering wheel. “Nothing,” she said. “Befriending Yuki was supposed to be my job. I failed. So Tamani had to do it and I guess I feel guilty. I hate letting him down. He’s my friend.”
“Friend,” Chelsea deadpanned. “That’s why David turns into a fire-breathing dragon whenever they’re in the same room.”
“He does not.”
“He does a really good job of hiding it when you’re around because he doesn’t want to be the jealous boyfriend. But trust me, he tenses up the second Tamani gets anywhere near him.”
“Really?” Laurel asked, guilt creeping in.
“Yes. You think that blow-up last week was an isolated occurrence? It’s been building since the first day of school. Don’t you guys talk about this kind of stuff?”
“How is it always my fault that Tamani is in love with me!” Laurel said, louder than she intended. “I didn’t do anything!”
“Come on, Laurel,” Chelsea said, softly now. “I get that Tamani likes you, but honestly, that doesn’t really matter. Half the guys in our class like you. You’re gorgeous. I’ve seen them stare. It doesn’t bother David. If anything, I think it makes David happy. He’s dating the hottest girl in school and everyone knows it.”
“I’m not the hottest girl in school,” Laurel said stiffly, pulling up to the curb in front of Chelsea’s house. She knew she was pretty, but there were a lot of beautiful girls at Del Norte. And Chelsea was one of them.
“You are the hottest girl in school,” Chelsea repeated, “and Captain Science is your boyfriend. You didn’t know David before high school, so let me spell it out for you: The moment you gave him the time of day, you changed David’s life. He would do anything for you. And he’s not really the jealous type.”
“I’m starting to think all boys are the jealous type,” Laurel grumbled.
“I’m telling you, David isn’t mad at Tamani because Tamani’s jealous. David’s mad at Tamani because you’re jealous.”
Laurel leaned her forehead against the steering wheel in defeat.
“Is he really in love with you?” Chelsea asked after a long, silent moment.
“Yes,” Laurel admitted, looking up at Chelsea but leaving her head against the wheel.
Chelsea raised her eyebrows. “Well. Good luck with that.”
Chapter Sixteen
“I DON’T KNOW WHY THIS THING IS BOTHERING ME so much this year,” Laurel said, hiding behind David’s much-larger frame to adjust the sash around her blossom in the hallway.
“Maybe it’s because you didn’t get to keep it free on Saturday,” David suggested. “Kinda like muscles being sore if you don’t rest them, or something.”
“Maybe,” Laurel agreed. “And this weekend isn’t going to be any different.”
“Do you need to skip the dance?” David asked, hiding a smile. “I wouldn’t mind.” David hadn’t been entirely pleased to hear that they were going to the dance with Tamani — though, on hearing that Yuki would be Tamani’s date, his attitude had improved. Marginally.
“I know you wouldn’t,” Laurel said, “but Chelsea would. She needs this. Especially after last week. It will be a good night for her and Ryan.”
“You’re sure I can’t just deck Ryan?” David growled. It was interesting to watch how protective David was of Chelsea. Laurel knew their friendship went back years, but when she’d told David about Ryan’s SAT scores, she’d half expected him to come to Ryan’s defense — after all, David and Ryan were friends too, and Chelsea still refused to ask Ryan for an explanation.
“There will be no ‘decking,’ David,” Laurel chided. “Of anyone.”
“Yes, Mother,” David said, rolling his eyes.
“Oh, and Tamani wants us to meet up before the dance — you and me and Chelsea.” He’d dropped that on Laurel in Government class, with scant explanation. “Strategy meeting or something, I guess. He says it’s important.” Laurel rubbed at her temples. The stress of Yuki was almost worse than having trolls lurking. At least with trolls, you knew where you stood. Trolls liked treasure, revenge, and tearing people limb from limb. For all Laurel knew, Yuki and Klea were valuable allies — but then, they might be busy engineering her death, or worse. Laurel suspected it was that uncertainty that had been bringing on these crippling headaches lately.
“Is it bad today?” David asked as he ran his hands over her shoulders and bent a little to touch his forehead to hers.
Laurel nodded, a tiny movement that didn’t jostle David’s forehead from hers; she liked the feel of his face so close. “I just need to go outside,” Laurel said quietly. “Get out of these halls.”
“Hey, Laurel.”
Laurel looked up to see Yuki. Smiling.
At her.
Her eyes went to Tamani, who was standing just behind Yuki. “Hey,” Laurel answered, a little nervously.
“Listen,” Yuki said, “I wanted to thank you for coming by the other day.”
“Oh,” Laurel said, finding herself at a loss for words. “It’s fine. I mean, it’s got to be weird, being somewhere totally new.”
“It can be. And…” Her eyes darted up to Tamani and he smiled his encouragement. “I haven’t been super-friendly and you were really nice.”
“Really,” Laurel said, feeling awkward now. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“So, do you mind if Tam and I eat lunch with you? You guys always eat outside, right?”
“I like it there,” Laurel said, feeling vaguely defensive. “Um, sure you can join us. If you want.” This is what we’ve been working for, she reminded herself.
Tamani and Yuki went off to get their lunches and Laurel turned back to her locker. Her headache was getting worse. She was glad it was lunchtime. Getting out of the school for a few minutes usually helped.
“You okay?” David asked, locking his locker, his lunch tucked under his arm.
“She’s going to notice how I eat,” Laurel said. “Why didn’t Tamani stop this?” But she knew why. It was worth the risk. Probably.
David didn’t answer, just put an arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the doors.
Chelsea and Ryan and a few of the other regulars were already sitting and pulling out their lunches when Laurel and David arrived, moments ahead of Tamani and Yuki. The group hardly looked up when Tamani and Yuki sat down; they often had people come and go. Yuki sat down right beside Laurel. Tamani sat next to Yuki.